• childhood trauma,  human psychology,  personal development,  romance

    East Meets West: Brad and Elly get married

    Elly’s parents and older brother arrived at San Francisco International Airport from Okayama, Japan to their daughter and sister get married. On their wedding day, Brad went up to their room at a nearby Marriott, and Elly introduced them as Otosan and Okasan, which meant Father and Mother. They bowed politely and spoke in Japanese which Elly translated. Okasan was bent over, leaned on a cane with one arm, and gave Brad a kind smile. Otosan stood rigidly, eyes like coals burning through thick black framed glasses, supporting his wife by her other arm. They were slightly shorter than Elly’s 5’ 3” and almost as petite. The brother shook Brad’s…

  • adverse childhood experience,  childhood trauma,  human psychology,  mother problems

    A Poor and Crowded House

    Natalie’s 3rd baby was born in the back seat of an old Chevy on the way to the hospital. She named him Glen after the first U.S. astronaut to circle the Earth, which bothered Bradley. He wouldn’t wish anybody born into the mess that was his family to be named after his hero.  But it was  thrilling when his Dad Morris brought them home after a few days in the hospital. Glen had a rough start and the doctor had told them it was because Natalie drank too much. But Mo was strutting around the house like a big king rooster, and making phone calls to spread the news. “Hey…